Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Mar 2000

Vol. 516 No. 4

Written Answers. - Baldonnel Aerodrome.

Nora Owen

Question:

60 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the situation of her Department concerning the expansion or otherwise of the use of Baldonnel Airport; the discussions, if any, she has had with the Department of Defence regarding this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8403/00]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

Any use of Baldonnel for civil aviation purposes is a matter which falls to be considered by me, in consultation with the Minister for Defence, in the context of overall airport policy.

The position of Baldonnel was considered in the recent Warburg Dillon Read/AIB report on Aer Rianta's future strategic direction which assessed the merits of a second airport in Dublin, particularly in the context of the possible development by commercial interests of Baldonnel Aerodrome.

I note that, with regard to Baldonnel, the advisers see no reason for the Government to hinder commercial development at the aerodrome subject to appropriate planning and Irish Aviation Authority approval. They believe that while the development of a corporate jet facility on a commercial basis could be viable, a larger scale passenger airport development at Baldonnel would be commercially challenging.

These issues are addressed in the advisers' report which is now publicly available. I am now giving careful consideration to the findings and recommendations of that report and I will be submitting my proposals for consideration by Government shortly.

Officials of my Department and the Department of Defence maintain regular contact in relation to proposals concerning the possible use of Baldonnel for civil aviation purposes.

In relation to Irish Aviation Authority approval, I should add that section 3 of the Irish Aviation Authority Act, 1993, excludes aerodromes under the control of the Minister for Defence from that authority's regulatory remit. Without prejudice to the Government's consideration of the possible expanded use of Baldonnel, I believe that section 3 of the 1993 Act should be amended in order to permit the authority to regulate any civil aviation activities at the military aerodromes which the Minister for Defence and I may agree on. In this regard, I propose to include an appropriate amending clause in the Bill to establish the aviation regulator which I will be seeking Government approval to publish in the coming weeks.